Most Influential Black Spiritual Leaders 2008

The Most Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

In black communities, religious leaders have historically occupied a powerful position as gurus, advocates, stewards and preachers. Whether inspiring their congregations to stand up against social injustice or urging a focus on God-centered family values, black religious leaders are a crucial component of a rich and diverse spiritual landscape. In honor of Black History Month, Beliefnet has compiled a list of some of the nation's most influential black spiritual leaders in 2008. While by no means comprehensive, the list includes some of today's most prominent--and controversial--spiritual figures, some up-and-coming figures of note, and several individuals whose lifelong efforts have earned them a place in history.

Text by Nicole Symmonds with additional reporting by Ansley Roan

Rabbi Capers C. Funnye

As an African-American rabbi, Capers C. Funnye Jr. not only leads his Chicago congregation, he also works to bridge the racial divide among Jews. He is the spiritual leader of Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago, which was founded in 1915. The congregation, like most of what were once called Black Jewish congregations, believes the ancient Israelites were African. Traditionally, African-American Jewish congregations have remained somewhat apart from the rest of Jewish community. Funnye, on the other hand, has been involved with other Jewish organizations and even attended the White House Hanukkah party. In an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, he said, "It's important for me, on a very personal level, for my children and for other Jews, to see Judaism is beyond any racial group."

Archbishop Peter Akinola

Peter Akinola is the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria, but he has become a major player in the division in the U.S. Episcopal Church, as well as a catalyst for change in the worldwide Anglican Communion of which the Episcopal Church is a part. He is a leader among those opposed to the ordination of homosexuals in the 77-million member Anglican Communion. In the U.S., when a small group of churches voted to split from the Episcopal Church over this and other issues, they asked Akinola to be their archbishop. He has become a force within his own tradition, but his prominence is also symbolic of an overall global shift, as many Christian churches see a rise in both numbers and influence of what some call the Global South-Africa, Asia, and South America.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, brought social activism to the pulpit in the late 1970s by planting a "Free South Africa" sign on the lawn of the church. Years later, his bravado caught the attention of a young Barack Obama, who still seeks his guidance on spiritual matters. Wright is particularly outspoken on such subjects as AIDS in the African-American community and is the founder of Samuel Proctor Conference, the largest annual gathering of black social justice congregations and leaders in the country. In the past year, Wright has been in the spotlight trying to defend the accusations that Trinity is a black separatist church and trying to defend the relevancy of an "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian" church.

Archbishop Wilton Gregory

The first African-American to head the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Gregory took the lead in reforming church policies in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandals. Though he is no longer president of the organization, Gregory made headlines as a religious leader willing to take a hard line in considering sex abuse a crime and calling for the ouster of predatory priests. Gregory, now Atlanta's archbishop, has worked to help restore public confidence in the church. In 2006, he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers at Morehouse College and honored with the Cardinal Bernardin Award given by the Catholic Common Ground Initiative. Archbishop Gregory is now the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Committee where he will help strengthen interfaith dialogue between Catholics and non-Catholics.

Dr. Myles Munroe

Dr. Myles Munroe is a preacher, international motivational speaker, best-selling author, and a business consultant. As the senior pastor of the Bahamas Faith Ministries, he preaches a message of equality for all people and the importance of finding and fulfilling our God-given purpose. But his purpose-driven message doesn't stop at the pulpit. Munroe specializes in reaching the world using every form of media, from internet broadcasts of Sunday sermons to television, radio, and books. Dr. Munroe also has a passion for helping people in Third World countries and does so through his work as the founder and president of the International Third World Leaders Association. Dr. Munroe's latest book is entitled "Applying the Kingdom: Understanding God's Priority and Primary Interest."

Rev. Claudette Copeland

This up-and-coming preacher has a spiritual curriculum vitae that is anything but empty. The Rev. Dr. Claudette Anderson Copeland was a licensed evangelist in the Church of God in Christ at the age of 18 and an ordained minister soon thereafter. She and her husband made history when they became the first active duty African-American couple to serve as chaplains in the United States Air Force. Rev. Copeland founded C.O.P.E Professional Services, a consulting agency for personal effectiveness training in the public sector and Destiny Ministries, a national empowerment group for women. For 22 years, she served as the pastor and cofounder of New Creation Christian Fellowship of San Antonio, and she is currently the co-pastor of the church.